Moves aplenty in transfer window

The football transfer window slammed shut January 31, 2015, closing out the final opportunity for teams to strengthen for the final push in the Red Stripe Premier League towards either a semi-final spot, remain in mid-table or try to avoid relegation.

Bleachers Report can confirm the following transfers for all clubs, except the two from the west, as the parish operations are still manual, and transfer information is not readily available electronically.

Arnett Gardens, sitting in first position and comfortable, have only acquired Neiko 'Engine Belly' Williams from Waterhouse. He is one for the future.

Boys' Town, which struggled for the duration of the first round and part of the second round, have climbed well to ninth. They have added Mitchily Waul, the former Harbour View, August Town, Cavalier Soccer Club, Tivoli Gardens, Portmore United midfield/forward, plus Michael Blygen, to add to their improving squad. They performed to avoid the Christmas curse, after being dead last during the holiday season.

Cavalier's Acquisition

Cavalier, after leading for nine matches in the first round, have found points hard to come by. They have acquired goalkeeper Davon Haughton from August Town, forward Donovan 'Chocolate' Edwards from Harbour View, defender Kimorlee Brissett from Waterhouse, and former Bull Bay talisman Donovan McCurdy.

Barbican snapped up Charlie Smith schoolboy standout star forward Bebeto McDonald, from Arnett Gardens, midfielder Nicholas Smith from August Town, Tivoli Gardens' Akeem Brown, Portmore United midfielder and new captain André Christie, and Waterhouse's Rushane Francis. And with new coach Marvin Tate doing very well after instilling some discipline in the team, even ousting former captain and former national Under-20 defender and talisman in the team's rise to the Premier League, Shawn Lawes.

Humble Lion added former Sporting Central star forward Francois Swaby on loan for the rest of the season after demanding in excess of $650,000 for the transfer, midfielder Kevon Reid, defender Gregory Lewis, and former Cavalier and national goalkeeper Gariece McPherson to the most expensively assembled squad in the RSPL.

Waterhouse acquired midfielder André Messam from Real Mona and George Brown from a St Catherine team.

Tivoli took on two players, teenage midfielder Ajuma Johnson from Boys' Town and Paul Stewart.

Harbour View did not trouble the transfer window for fellow Premier League teams, but brought in youngsters Clayon Pusey and Davon Donaldson for Under-20 duties.

Rivoli United Upgraded

Rivoli United upgraded with former Harbour View midfielder Kemar Lawrence - not 'Taxi' the national left back - Allman/Woodford and Cavalier goalkeeper Jovell Plunkett, Boys' Town midfielder Orlando Stewart, forward Shane Watson, and returning resident Davion Garrison from Tivoli Gardens.

Montego Bay United have acquired Cavalier defender Dwayne Holmes and former national left back Troy Smith, while Reno FC now have former national Under-20 invitee forward Peter Morris, formerly of Humble Lion and Cavalier SC, and Shonor Chattan from demoted RSPL team Savannah United.

In the meantime, Craig Butler, the man who has coached/managed a team called Phoenix Academy and says they can beat all national teams, seems to be on the move again. Butler has coached Central Kingston FC; Shortwood United, Constant Spring FC; University of Technology; Papine; Allman/Woodford; Maverley/Hughenden, Meadforest United, Liguanea United, where all the drama started; Stony Hill FC in the KSAFA; and Premier League outfit Humble Lion during 2014. BR apologises to any club if we missed their names,

International Clubs

Butler has boasted that his players have contracts with internationally known clubs like Bayern Munich, Ajax Amsterdam, to name a few.

He posted on the Jamaica Reggae Boyz discussion forum that he is moving to Sporting Central Academy with his players in tow, having withdrawn them from Humble Lion after leaving with Mike Henry's permission and entering into the world of another Clarendon team, with boss Ainsley Lowe.

The drama has already begun at Sporting Central Academy, with them conceding nine goals in their last two games. But Lowe, if the report that Butler is at SCA is true, then BR is singing a part of the Bob Marley classic "time will tell, you think you living in heaven but you living in hell".